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Robert Wadlow

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Robert Wadlow

1918 - 1940

His middle name, Pershing, was in honor of the World War I General Pershing, then commanding officer of the European conflict.

Robert was the first born of Addie and Harold Wadlow.

1918

weighed a normal eight pounds, six ounces.

1918

began to walk at 40 lbs

1919

family lived in Roxana, Illinois.

1920 - 1926

At 5 years of age, attending kindergarten, Robert was 5' 6 1/2" tall.

1923

He wore clothes that would fit a 17 year old boy.

Robert weighed 210 pounds and was 6' 5" tall.

1928

His shoes were size 17 1/2.

Robert sold magazines to earn money for a savings account.

1929 - 1931

In 1931 the banks failed, and he lost his savings. He gave up the magazine business.

Robert takes his first airplane ride

1929

Just before his 12th birthday Robert had his first checkup at Barnes Hospital (St. Louis), where the family learned of his over-active pituitary gland that caused his fantastic growth.

At the age of 13 he was the largest Boy Scout in the world.

1931

His weight was 270 pounds, and his height was 7' 4". It took 14 yards of 36" wide material to make his Boy Scout uniform.

Robert attended the World's fair in Chicago.

1933

It took two turns and 20¢ to get Robert through the turnstile.

Robert received the largest birthday card ever made by the Alton Post Office.

1933

It measured 14" x 22".

Robert became Advertising Manager of the Tatler - Alton High School Year Book.

1935 - 1936

He graduated in the January class, 1936.

At age 18, he had reached eight feet, four inches tall

1936

his size 37 shoes cost $100.00 a pair

In February, Robert enrolled in Shurtleff College.

1936

Robert and his father made an extensive trip west

1937

including Hollywood and most of the western states, as a goodwill ambassador for International Shoe Company. Thereafter, the firm made his shoes free of charge.

Robert Wadlow died July 15, 1940.

1940

His weight was 490 pounds, his height was 8' 11.1". He was buried July 19, 1940 in Upper Alton Cemetery.

Cites

2013

"Alton Museum of History and Art - Robert Pershing Wadlow - Alton's Gentle Giant." Alton Museum of History and Art - Robert Pershing Wadlow - Alton's Gentle Giant. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2013.